Russia shows off upgraded nuclear bomber

Russia shows off upgraded nuclear bomber

news.ninemsn.com.au

Russia has showed off the first modernised Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber, which a senior air force official said would help Moscow match the nuclear capability of a potential enemy.

Russian television showed the giant, white-painted airplane releasing parachutes to slow down the speed as it landed at Engels airbase in the Volga region of Saratov after being upgraded at the Kazan Aviation Association.

The supersonic jet with variable-sweep wings is the heaviest combat aircraft ever built. Along with the Tu-95 turbo-prop, it resumed round-the-clock patrols across the world last year on the order of President Vladimir Putin after a break of 15 years.

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I understand why we upgrade aircraft by why this aircraft so it can deliver nuclear weapons. Are they preparing for a nuclear war and with who!!

news.ninemsn.com.au
(visit the link for the full news article)

Just another boast of BS from Russia. The plane was made to be a nuclear bomber. Maybe they just now got it to work right

Back at the ranch our air force generals are laughing.

reply to post by Sky watcher


It's as if they don't have hundreds of ICBM's/SLMB's , hundreds of long range nuclear capable cruise missle carrying aircraft and plenty of weapons with which to try shoot down similar weapons of other countries. One upgraded nuclear bomber doth not make Russia any more dangerous than it's been the last few decades!

So yes, this is hardly breaking news and was covered in another section of the site.

Stellar

PS: But it's not so bad and there is no reason that i am aware of why the thread has to be closed. As Zaphod pointed out this would have been a very significant capability upgrade for most countries but since the RF still retains all their other arms a dozen upgraded ( they want to eventually have 35 operational planes) intercontinental bombers doesn't change this specific balance of power scenario very much if at all.

[edit on 30-4-2008 by StellarX]

This plane has been around since the 1980's.

Why is this becoming news now?

Shattered OUT...

reply to post by ShatteredSkies


Sorry if I have annoyed you in some way it was on the news and I did a search but nothing came up.

MODS please remove this thread.

reply to post by ShatteredSkies


Because it's a pretty significant upgrade for the plane. Even if it has been around since the 1980s. It received a new targeting system, the capability to carry new cruise missiles, and a new ECM suite.

The Russian Air Force is planning a limited upgrade for their Tu-160 fleet. First stage of the upgrade will equip the aircraft with the conventional armed Kh-101 and Kh-555 cruise missiles and a new fire control system for these missiles, called Sigma. The Kh-101 uses a electro-optical terminal homing system and the Tu-160 will be able to carry up to 12 of these missiles. The Kh-555 is a reworked Kh-55SM with uses the Kh-101 homing system and replaces the nuclear warhead with a conventional one. Second stage of the upgrade will include upgraded mission equipment and a new search-attack radar. Besides the Kh-101, this will enable the Tu-160 to be equipped with the Kh-102 strategic missile, medium range subsonic Kh-SD and a medium range supersonic weapon, presumable designated the Kh-41. Other upgraded system include navigation, communication and self-defence systems. The upgrade will be carried out by KAPO at Kazan and will extend the service life of the Tu-160 until at least 2020-2025.

www.milavia.net...

Alright, so it's an upscaling of the original avionics suite and electronics equipment.

I see how that broadens the spectrum of missions the aircraft can undertake.

Sure beats the hell out of designing a whole new bomber.

Shattered OUT...

With all the tensions around the world being ratcheted up this is a pretty significant upgrade to the Russian Air Force. Especially with all the new weapons it can carry. Luckily there are only 15 of the 30 produced left that we know of.